The Senators and Leafs are both finally relevant at the same time, and jostling for playoff position down the stretch.
It's well known that the Ottawa Senators haven't been to the playoffs in almost eight years, but their greatest NHL rivalry has been dormant for a lot longer than that.
Ottawa’s famous Battle of Ontario with the Toronto Maple Leafs dates back almost 25 years – April 12, 2000 – when they first met in the playoffs in the 2000 postseason. That set off four playoff series between the two clubs over the next five years. While Toronto won every series, there was fierce animosity between the two teams and their fan bases that carried on for several years.
But until recently, the rivalry's fire had turned to embers.
After their successful playoff runs against the Senators were completed in 2004, the Leafs fell into complete disrepair, even by their standards, missing the playoffs for 10 of the next 11 seasons. Then it was Ottawa's turn. While both clubs made the playoffs in 2017, the Senators haven't been back since.
Now, both teams are finally relevant at the same time, and jostling for playoff position down the stretch.
As they prepare for their game on Saturday night in Toronto, there are 17 games left in the season, and there’s still a possibility that the two clubs could meet in the playoffs.
Winners of five in a row, the Senators are currently the top Wild Card team in the East, but they're only four points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for third place in the Atlantic – a position that would put them on a collision course with the second-place Leafs.
There's nothing a Senators fan would like more than the chance for another Springtime Playoff Battle of Ontario. Yes, there are old scores to settle, especially if you're a fan who’s over 35, but it might also be the most favourable matchup for the Sens, who are 5-1 against Toronto over the past two seasons.
As the regular season hourglass empties out, and with both teams dying for some playoff success, Saturday’s Battle of Ontario should be good and feisty.
But taking this fight into the playoffs would be next level.
Line Combinations for Saturday Night:
As far as the lineup goes, according to TSN 1200 radio:
- Travis Green says Travis Hamonic will replace an injured Nick Jensen tonight
- Brady Tkachuk looks good to go after missing his last few shifts on thursday with a tweaked hip
- Linus Ullmark will start in goal
Ottawa
Tkachuk-Stützle-Giroux
Perron-Cozens-Batherson
Greig-Pinto-Amadio
Highmore-Gaudette-Zetterlund
Sanderson-Zub
Chabot-Hamonic
Kleven-Matinpalo
Ullmark
Scratched: Dennis Gilbert
Injured: Nick Cousins (knee), Nick Jensen (undisclosed)
Toronto
McMann-Tavares-Marner
Knies-Matthews-Domi
Jarnkrok-Laughton-Nylander
Lorentz-Holmberg-Robertson
(Matthews has morning off, will play against Senators tonight)
McCabe-Tanev
Rielly-Carlo
Benoit-Ekman-Larsson
Stolarz
Woll
Scratched: David Kampf, Phillippe Myers
Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness)
Face-off is 7 pm (CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, TVAS2).
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